3 tips to future-proof your own skillset
Do you know people over 60? Call them and tell them there are people making 6 figures playing games on the internet and talking to people they can’t even see. Now, look at their response. Is it disbelief? Laughter? Are they asking you “how” and “why” questions? For people older than the “digital generations”, working means going to the office, factory, or harbor for example, and working 8–12 hour shift. Working has a certain image and it surely doesn’t contain playing games online, chatting on some amateur radio (podcast), and creating short videos for millions of people. However, thanks to technology and human creativity, nowadays these ARE actual jobs.
Technology is 10x’ing the changes in our jobs
Every generation has different perceptions of what “a job” is. One time, a job used to be hunting mammoths, being a lamplighter, or connecting one phonecall to another. Soon we can say the same about driving taxis, working a checkout, or buying advertisement space. Changes are occurring more rapidly and that’s because technology growth is exponential.
The first recorded handwritten letter was written in 500BC. The first fax machine was built in 1881AD, which is about 2,380 years to go from the first handwritten to the first digital letter. The first-ever e-mail — the next leap in written technology — stems from 1971. which is only 90 years since the first fax was sent. Even smaller is the leap from e-mail to chat, with just 2 years in between.
It’s essential for you to keep up with these changes and keep tweaking your skillset to match these technological changes.
You see, technological advancement creates even greater technological advancement. The invention of the internet led to sending of emails, which led to chatting, which led to apps like Whatsapp, and so on. This also means that jobs change with that. Sending e-mails is suddenly a big part of many people’s jobs, whereas 100 years ago, there were zero emails involved but 100% shovels, heavy bags, or horses. But even closer to home. A customer service department talking to you through Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, and their online chatbot….how recent is that?!
The focus will shift, you should shift with it
As new technology creates new jobs, this also changes the demand of what companies are looking for in their teams. Artificial Intelligence enables companies to equip their processes with intelligent decision-making, where automation takes away a lot of manhours and turns manual tasks into automated tasks. This means that companies need different skills in the near future, skills that add a whole new dimension to their brand.
It’s essential for you to keep up with these changes and keep tweaking your skillset to match these technological changes.
1. Understand emerging technologies from a supply/demand perspective
What technologies are written about in the news and how do major companies adopt them? You can see maritime adopting predictive forecasting, e-commerce increasing the use of chatbots, and E-health implementing data to make predictions and suggestions on our health and wellbeing.
Make sure you — at least — understand what that means. If you’re interested in working in fitness, try looking further than the paths we know. What are fitness companies working on and how could you and your newly found skills fit in? If you can combine your love for fitness and understanding of data, you could help improve and digitize personal workout plans. Look at the big players and how they are disrupting their business.
2. Scan job sites and job boards. What skills are they seeking
For example, you can see a huge spike in “Data Scientist” openings. What type of jobs are popular and — on the contrary — what jobs aren’t really popular but are related to new technologies. What are companies working on IoT looking for? What type of companies are recruiting Data Engineers and what do their job descriptions look like. Learn what type of traits companies are requesting from applicants. Do you see more requests for analytical people? Do they ask for an understanding of human behavior? Are they supporting creativity?
By understanding the demand in the market, you can sense the shift in what companies deem “important jobs” or better, “future-proof jobs” that have a longer life-span than jobs in industries that are more prone to automation and disruption.
3. Invest in human traits, like creativity and p2p interactions
I can personally guarantee that “the future of work”* will rely heavier on human-centric working and conducting business. It will be increasingly important to use creativity, empathy, and human interactions in almost every aspect of a company or organization. When technology takes over our redundant and mundane tasks, humans will need to focus on increasing brand equity and customer satisfaction.
People with people-skills, knowledge of human psychology, a creative mind, high communication skills, understanding of consumer behavior, and critical thinking will be highly sought after in a matter of years. Technology can replace many tasks but not human traits, which are actually the differentiators for many organizations.
*I’ve put quotation marks as the future is actually already happening
Humans make the difference, everywhere
New jobs will come thanks to our many new technologies. Like I stated in the beginning, jobs like “Podcaster” or “Youtuber” are very much real income-generating jobs. What makes a great Youtuber? The technology enables them to reach a massive audience, but it’s their creativity, personality and emotions that get their audience to engage and stick with them, which ultimately supports their income.
Not saying you need to become a Youtuber, but I’d urge you to invest in the 3 elements stated above. Understand where the market is going, learn what upcoming jobs are, and invest HEAVILY in your personal traits, they will eventually set you apart from everyone else.
Key Learnings:
- Every generation has a different perception of what “a job” is. One time, a job used to be hunting mammoths, being a lamplighter (link), or …..soon we can say the same about driving taxis, working a checkout, or buying advertising space.
- New technology creates new jobs, this also changes the demand of what companies are looking for in their teams.
- Research how major companies are using new technologies. What type of jobs does that create? What type of innovations do they use?
- Research how job applications are changing. What type of traits are companies looking for? What type of (new) jobs do you see emerging?
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